YEREVAN, December 25. /TASS/. Russia’s airbase in the capital of Armenia, Yerevan, has started flight calibration of squadrons of Mi-24P helicopter gunships that have entered service over December, Maj. Andrey Dobrosmyslov, spokesman for the Southern Military District of Russia’s Armed Forces, said Friday.

"During flight calibration, crews of the attack helicopters will practice takeoff, flights at various speeds, at altitudes of 100 to 1,500 meters and landing," Dobrosmyslov said.

"In easy and complicated weather conditions, the pilots will inspect the parts and accessories during loads and g-loads," he said. "The flight calibration of the helicopter squadron will last two months."

The airbase is located at Yerevan’s Erebuni airfield. The Russian military base is deployed in Armenia in line with an interstate treaty between Moscow and Yerevan struck in 1995. In 2010, changes were introduced to the document, in line with which the period of stay of the formation was extended from the original 25 to 49 years.

The Armenian authorities consider Russian military presence an important component of the country’s national security.

"Close interaction with Russia is an important component of our security, economic development and stability," Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said March 18.